The classroom buzzed with excitement. Outside, the rain whispered steadily against the windows, but inside, it was warm and electric with anticipation. A large poster was taped to the blackboard in messy red marker:
"SNOW WHITE CASTING VOTE!"
Desks had been pushed aside. Students huddled in tight groups, chatting and laughing, scraps of paper in their hands. Kun sat quietly at his desk, wrapped in his soft red scarf and a cardigan draped over his uniform. He was still pale from his recent hospital stay, but he smiled faintly at the lively atmosphere.
Beside him sat Sai.
Blending in effortlessly. Smiling gently. As if he hadn't just nearly killed Kun days before.
As if the rooftop had never happened.
Classmates hovered near Sai, laughing and exchanging stories with him like they always had. It was uncanny. Unnatural. Kun could barely look at him without his stomach turning—but he had to pretend.
Then, as if it were nothing, Sai leaned in close, his breath brushing Kun's ear.
"Are you excited?" he whispered. "I'm sure you are."
Kun flinched. That voice—it still scraped across his nerves like a wire. But he quickly masked his face, forcing a serene smile.
"I'm not. But if I get to play with you… then maybe I will be."
A lie. A careful one.
Sai tilted his head. He hadn't expected that.
Kun's voice was calm, his smile perfect. Pure. Untouchable.
And Sai hated it.
"He's smiling for me?" he murmured to himself. "Is he learning… his place?"
Sai's expression darkened. He returned to his seat without a word, his eyes quietly burning holes into Kun's back.
At the front of the class, Ichiko clapped his hands.
"Alright, everyone! We're doing a genderbent Snow White for the theatre day! I've listed everyone who signed up. Let's vote on the major roles."
He lifted a box filled with slips.
Kun hesitated. He hadn't submitted anything. But Ichiko had said he'd already included Kun's name—and judging by the whispers and glances, most of the class had already made their decisions.
"Lleigh-san," someone whispered beside him.
Kun turned to see Sasasuka grinning.
"I voted for you as Snow White, bro. If you slay it, I'm buying you tomato juice for the rest of the semester."
Kun blinked. "You can't be serious."
But the votes poured in, laughter and noise muffling his voice.
Ten minutes later, Ichiko stepped up to the board with a piece of chalk.
"Here are the results!"
Snow White – Lleigh Kun (17 votes)
The Prince – Misaki
The Magic Mirror – Yui
The Evil Queen – … (no one)
Ichiko scratched his head. "No nominee for the Queen? But we can't run the play without her."
Someone laughed. "We all just wanna be dwarves or background dancers! No one wants to be the villainess."
"Still, someone has to be her," Ichiko said. "Otherwise, there's no story."
The room fell silent.
Then—
Sai raised his hand.
"I'll take the role of the Queen."
Heads turned.
"Sai-kun? Really?"
"Ohhh, he's gonna look *majestic*—!"
Kun slowly looked up.
Sai was staring directly at him.
Kun forced a sparkle into his eyes and reached out, grabbing Sai's hand in a bright, innocent gesture.
"Really? Thank you, Sai. You saved the whole story. Let's do our best, okay?"
The class burst into cheers, clapping and whistling as Sai gave a graceful nod.
Ichiko scribbled the last name onto the board:
Evil Queen – Mukami Sai
The festival layout was announced:
* Day 1 – Cafés and game booths
* Day 2 – The *Snow White* performance
* Day 3 – Music and talent showcases
Excitement rippled through the classroom. Sai was promptly roped into the class café's "butler team." He smiled politely but declined. Kun watched, silently. Every second in Sai's orbit made his skin crawl.
---
Later, when the classroom had emptied out, Kun stayed behind for cleaning duty.
He was wiping the windows when he saw the reflection behind him.
Sai. Again.
"Why didn't you protest?" Sai asked quietly.
Kun didn't turn around. "About what?"
"About being Snow White. You're really going to play her?"
"I didn't think I'd win," Kun murmured, wiping in slow circles. "I guess the class just wants to have fun."
Sai leaned against the opposite wall, studying Kun's form—the delicate tilt of his shoulders, the tremble he tried to hide.
"You're trembling," Sai noted.
Kun stilled. Then forced a smile.
"Let's eat ramen after this?"
Sai blinked.
For a moment, the memory washed over him—Kun's laughter, the noodles they'd shared, the warmth of a memory that never belonged to Sai in the first place.
A slow, genuine smile curved Sai's lips.
"Do you need help? You're so slow, Kun. Hurry up. I miss eating ramen with you."
For a moment, the world felt quiet again.
But Kun didn't turn.
He knew better.
The silence stretched between them. Thin. Fragile.
Sai took a step forward.
"You're trying to confuse me, aren't you?" he whispered.
Kun exhaled slowly. "I'm trying to survive."
Sai tilted his head, his voice suddenly cool.
"But you're doing so well, Snow White."
Kun gripped the cleaning cloth tightly.
He wasn't ready for this performance.
But he had no choice.